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Walk with the Lord. . .
For the Lord keeps his eyes on the right-
eous and always listens to their prayers; but
he turns against those who do evil.”
1 Peter 3:12
NKJ
6 - “THE MURRAY PIONEER” www.murraypioneer.com.au Friday, July 25, 2014
Illegal dumping continues
I WAS interested to read the article in
the The Murray Pioneer regarding road-
side littering (‘We love rubbishing roads’,
18/7/14).
The accompanying photo was not road-
side rubbish, but that of illegal dumping
on what I strongly suspect was Crown
Land.
Unfortunately, the Katarapko National
Park and Cooltong Conservation Park
both have areas of adjacent Crown Land
which have become a dumping ground for
domestic waste in the Riverland.
People are reluctant to part with money
in order to dump their rubbish.
They drive past the waste transfer sta-
tion at Renmark West, drive down Cuttle
Street to the park boundary and dump their
rubbish by the trailer load in the mallee.
It extends for nearly a kilometre.
There is a similar problem in the Berri
area.
The councils claim that it is not their
responsibility but that of the Department
of Environment Water and Natural
Resources (DEWNR).
DEWNR recently had its budget cut by
40 per cent and does not have the resourc-
es to adequately manage parks, let alone
deal with domestic rubbish.
I can see the need to reduce govern-
ment spending, but a 40 per cent reduction
seems disproportionate.
Would this decision have been taken
if it had impacted on Adelaide? Can we
expect the rubbish to continue to mount
up?
JOHN NETTLEFOLD
Friends of Riverland Parks
Council power needed
WHAT A difference a council that is
switched on regarding bringing tourism
dollars to their local area can make.
A story in a Mildura newspaper recent-
ly stated that motorsport at present was
bringing $21.4 million into their region
each year, with the potential to increase to
$61 million annually.
With full backing from their State
Government, they have even had Victoria’s
Deputy Premier up there, along with back-
ing from the local government.
The local Riverland Motorsport Club
has been telling local council and everyone
else the money that the proposed driver
education and drag strip would bring to
our area.
And now, 11 – yes 11 – years later we
are still waiting to get a start.
Why can’t our powers that be help out
in chasing funding for this project, like the
Mildura Rural City Council has?
The Riverland has not got anything that
can generate the kind of tourism dollars
that this project can bring to our area.
Both David Pluckhahn and I pushed
and pushed to get this project happening
and eventually pulled the pin due to the
frustrations and red tape.
The biggest hurdle to overcome now
will be funding, because of the economic
climate within the Riverland.
I wish all the motorsport members the
best for the future and hope that local gov-
ernment and MPs do something to get this
project off the ground.
Don’t say you are ‘right behind this’ –
get off your butts and help by getting out
in front and making it happen.
DENIS OATES
Renmark
You can make a difference
I HELD a charity walk last Sunday
to raise money for the Animal Welfare
League of SA (AWL of SA).
I adopted my precious kelpie x labra-
dor Gemma from there in 2005 and she’s
enjoyed a fun, safe, warm and loved life
ever since.
The very first walk I held last year,
along with Riverview Café in Renmark,
raised a fantastic total of $515.
Sadly, 2014 was so disappointing I
cried. On the bright side, Riverview Cafe
were doing very well, so once again
they’ve contributed so sincerely and gen-
erously.
It is always an invited walk, to avoid
insurance and council permits etc. so it’s
not open to the public.
But I expected many more people and
dogs to make the effort.
To those committed families who
walked, donated online and/or enjoyed
lunch at Riverview Café, I sincerely thank
you. You were so generous we did manage
to raise a lot for just such a dismal number
of supporters.
I understand that invited people may
have had something on or it slipped their
mind (or they missed the reminder).
Please consider donating even $5,
which is tax deductible on the website
http://give.everydayhero.com/au/walk-
in-waggin-2014). That would be a great
contribution and go towards my now dis-
tant goal of $500.
I wanted to write about this for two
reasons.
Firstly, to try to motivate people to
donate towards my goal and thus such a
worthy cause, especially those who own
much-loved dogs and/or cats. You would
be helping the AWL of SA care for and
re-home abandoned, neglected, abused or
unwanted dogs and cats.
With our help, they can find loving
homes like your precious pets have the
fortune to enjoy.
Secondly, to try to urge people that
even though our lives are stressful, jam-
packed and chaotic a lot of the time, mak-
ing a commitment to do something small
for a charity special to you is a relative-
ly easy but very valuable and wonderful
thing to do.
Giving an hour or so to participate
in a charity walk or other event, giving
unwanted blankets to the vets or op shop,
holding one of those events like a morning
tea to raise money – any of those types
of activities lifts spirits and makes all of
the priceless work people do even more
effective.
For some people it is hard to get moti-
vated, so it’s a great idea to have a goal
each year to contribute in a small way.
Even I’m put off by people from char-
ities harassing me in the plaza, so doing
something on your own terms for a charity
close to your heart is an even better idea.
It may seem that small acts don’t make
a difference or are a waste of time but if
we all think like that, we are a much sad-
der and poorer community.
One person may be fighting an uphill
battle, but with say 10 or more people the
impact is much bigger.
ABBY THREADGOLD
Renmark
A kind gesture
I WOULD like to thank the kind person
who found and forwarded my grandson’s
birthday card last Friday in Renmark.
A million thanks.
PAT MENZEL
Renmark
100km/h a certainty, unless...
Make no mistake, we are creeping
inexorably towards the introduction of
100km/h speed limits along certain stretches
of Riverland roads.
The State Government has announced
it will meet with Riverland councils about
proposed speed limit reductions to a number
of busy roads, most notably the Berri to
Loxton stretch (Bookpurnong Road), which
is used by many commuters each day.
The Government has promised to consult
with councils before any final decisions are
made, but it seems highly likely the changes
will go ahead.
Premier Jay Weatherill visited the
Riverland in 2012 and – during an informal
chat with local media – left no doubt in
anyone’s mind that cutting speed limits from
110km/h to 100km/h wherever possible
would happen.
From the Government’s point of view, the
latest news about consulting with councils
would fit neatly into the ‘we ticked all the
boxes beforehand’ category. It is difficult not
to consider that in reality, it is merely part of
the process, a lip-service gesture disguising
an unstoppable steamroller.
However, Riverlanders who believe such
speed limit reductions are unnecessary do
have some power: they can contact their local
councils.
Councils are here to serve their communi-
ties and, in this instance, are duty-bound to
report those views to the Government.
During an average week, neither Mr
Weatherill nor his driver would even see a
110km/h speed sign, let alone have to drive
along an unpopulated stretch of road.
Reducing speed limits to 100km/h may
indeed further cut road tolls, and of course
this is a most sensible goal.
But from a practical point of view, that
argument is flawed. If 100km/h is safer, why
not be even safer and cut the state limit to
90km/h? Or 60km/h?
The Government’s consultation pledge
may feel somewhat cursory, but it need not
be.
All letters must carry the full name of the writer. We do not accept nom de plumes. An address and
phone number must be included for checking purposes. The editor reserves the right to edit all letters.
All letters must carry the full name of the writer. We do not accept nom de plumes. An address and
phone number must be included for checking purposes. The editor reserves the right to edit all letters.
Editorial
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Telephone: 8586 8000
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Will Slee
The Murray Pioneer can be purchased at the Rundle Mall Plaza, Adelaide
Yabby farm, fail. Almond farm, fail. Now lucerne
farm will fail. How many legit businesses miss
out on funding because of some hare-brained
idea? And it’s more waste of money (‘Gerard
cash plan’, The Pioneer, 22/7/14).
NW
Cobby
Memories of the yabby farm come flooding
back to me. Please, can The Pioneer bury a time
capsule when my text is printed and open it in
six or seven years so everyone knows what a
stupid idea it was from the start?
ALEX
Adelaide
Two Hungry Jack’s in the Riverland (‘Double
whopper: Hungry’s to Loxton’, The Pioneer,
22/7/14)? That’s great news. Jobs for some
young people and more choice for all of us.
Y.E.S.
Renmark
So, some hoon burns around the streets of
Loxton for about an hour on Tuesday night,
going at dangerous speeds for a housing area,
and nothing happens. Are the police just not in
town any more or were they at more important
things? Locked up your kids if you hear the
sound of that car. Not to mention your pets.
TL
Loxton
So the editor thinks the NBN looks “a little
worse for wear” and is going to be “disastrous”
(‘NBN verdict years away’, The Pioneer, 18/7/14).
What a typically narrow-minded view. The NBN
can take us into the next 50 years of the world
and sure, it might cost a bit more now, but it
will be worth it in the long run. Plus, how much
better is it for all of us if we can download
things faster? That must lead to more efficient
ways of doing things. Maybe the editor needs
a lesson in common sense. He can find one on
the internet.
SUE
Renmark
Inappropriate cartoon in Tuesday’s Pioneer,
regarding the tragedy of flight MH17 (22/7/!4).
It’s in very bad taste doing cartoons like that.
AL
Renmark
Why do people insist on travelling along the
Sturt HWY at 20km/h under the speed limit?
Plus, why do the drivers then get angry when
they are overtaken? If you are THAT unsure of
your driving skills, I’m afraid to be near you on
the road, so pull over and let cars pass safely.
LOCHLAN
Berri
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